Wimbledon 2018: "Different" Novak Djokovic reserves his place in the last four

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates the defeat of Japanese Kei Nishikori in their men's quarter-final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Wednesday, July 11, 2018. (Photo AP / Tim Ireland)

Novak Djokovic felt like a different player from the Wimbledon winner, but comparisons were inevitable Wednesday as the Serb qualified for the semifinals for the first time since 2015. The former world champion number one and three times has played a sublime tennis, and has shown a lot of fire in the altercations with the referee, while & # 39; 39, he swept the Japanese Kei Nishikori 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-2.

"I think if I have to compare the game I played, the level of tennis that I've had these years and today, I think that's enough close, "he told reporters after two and a half hours.If there were obvious empty spots for the midday meeting, with reigning champion Roger Federer in action at the same time on Court One, Entertainment could not be blamed.

Djokovic looked in an awesome form, especially when he closed the last set. "It's hard to copy anything, no matter what." do not you? I do not like that, "he said." I usually like to recreate something. I know, like everything in life, we evolve. I am a different person, a different player today.

That said, the 31-year-old loved the place he was after 12 difficult months and the return of elbow surgery this year. Last month, after a defeat in the quarter-finals of the Open de France, Djokovic had doubts about his possible appearance on the lawns of south-west London. "I think that with the performances I've had, I deserve to be in the semifinals.I do not want to stop here.I hope I can have the chance to fight for a trophy, "he said.

Djokovic moved on to his eighth semifinal of Wimbledon, a feat improved by only three players of the open era. It will be the 32nd Grand Slam of his career and the first since the US Open of 2016 but, considering what has happened since his previous match, a special feeling remains no less a.

"Obviously, it's different to come in semifinals this year. in consideration 15 months late, all that happened, my results were not up to what I was doing before, on which I had to play, "he said. At the same time, I try to use the experience and memories that I have had by being in the final stages of the Grand Slam, to take very simple things, day in and day out … not too much to advance. "

Nishikori, who did not take advantage of three break points at the start of the third set and lost his service immediately thereafter, felt that the Serb was timing his return to the right form. "He was pumping himself. He was playing, you know, still good tennis, "said the Japanese." I'm sure he's fit again. I think trust is back for him.

"After returning from an injury, you must pump yourself a little more than before." (Report by Alan Baldwin, edited by Ed Osmond)

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